Radio antenna mounting and connector



May 24, 1949. H. z. BENTON I 2,471,020

RADIO ANTENNA MOUNTING AND CONNECTOR Filed April 25, 1945 Patented May 24, 1949 RADIO ANTENNA MOUNTING AND CONNECTOR Harold Z. Benton, Woodstock, Ill.

Application April 25, 1945, Serial N o. 590,196

2 Claims.

This invention relates to improvements in vehicle radio antenna mountings and low capacity connectors and has for an object the provision of a mounting and connector which is relatively simple and inexpensive construction and relif water within the hollow insulated conductorl usually made of cotton braided tubing which retains moisture in the weave, connections are then made by the addition of plugs and receptacles that are hollow for low capacity spacings at the antenna mast junction. This causes additional mechanical connections to be made, and these cavities, due to temperature changes, cause condensate to form temporarily causing signal losses. It is, therefore, an object of the present invention to provide an antenna mounting and connector construct'On Which is hermetically sealed to prevent the infiltration of water into and between the several parts thereof This invention further contemplates the provision of an antenna mounting embodying improved means for demountably securing an antenna in position for electrical connection to one end of a low capacity connector.

This invention further contemplates the provision of an improved low Capacity connector construction in which the ends of the connector are hermetically sealed to provide a leak-proof construction.

This invention further contemplates the provision of an improved mechanical and electrical connection between an antenna and one end of a low capacity connector, whereby the several parts forming this connection are hermetically sealed.

It is a further object of this invention to provide a vehicle radio antenna mounting and low capacity connector construction in which any desired predetermined value of dielectric constant, line capacity, ohmic resistance, attentuation and frequency response is obtainable.

This invention embodies other novel features, details of construction and arrangement of parts which are hereinafter set forth in the specification and claims and illustrated in the accompanying drawing wherein:

Fig. 1 is a sectional view, partly in side elevation, Showing a radio antenna mounting and connector construction embodying features of the present invention,

Fig. 2 is a transverse sectional view taken along the line 2-2 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a fragmentary sectional view showing a modied form 0f.- this invention,

Fig. 4 is a detail plan view showing a modied form of terminal strip,

Referring now to the drawing for a better under-standing of this invention, the radio antenna mounting is shown as comprising a cylindricalshaped insulating plug 6 snugly enclosed by means ci a metallic housing I which is preferably tubular in form and Substantially coextensive in length with the plug. The plug 6 and housing 1 are secured against relative axial movement by spinning an :inturned flange 8 on one end of the housing, and by bending an ear 9 inwardly from the opposite end of the housing. The plug B is provided with a longitudinally extending opening l l terminating in spaced relation to the lower end of the plug to receive and snugly engage the inner end of an antenna mast l2.

The antenna mast is preferably formed of tubular material having a metallic plug insert I3 soldered or welded therein, the inner end of the plug being provided with a threaded opening lo to receive the threaded end l5 of a mounting screw l1. The head portion I8 of the mounting screw is preferably formed Square or hexagonal and imbedded Within the lower end of the plllg 6 during the molding opelflftl. If desired, the lower end of the insulating plug may be counterbored at I9, as illustrated .in Fig. 3, to receive the head portion 2l) of either a round head or llister head screw 2|, in which event a plus insert 22 of insulating material is cemented within the counter-bore to cover the head of the screw. A transversely extending slot `2.3 is formed in the plug 6 at the bottom of the opening Il to receive a metallic terminal .plate 24 having its inner end slotted at 26 to receive the Screw ll- A low capacity connector Z1 embodying features of this invention is shown as comprising a kinked phosphorous bronze wire 28 enclosed Within an insulating tubing 29, one end of the wire being connected at 3| to the terminalplate 24 and the other end of the wire being connected to a suitable plug contact member 32. In order to hermetically seal the wire against the infiltration of moisture, the ends of the insulating tubing 29 are closed by means of a hot sealing operation. The end of the tubing 29 adjacent the antenna mounting may be hot sealed to enclose either the end of the terminal plate 24 or the end of the conductor wire 28 adjacent its connection with the terminal. A copper braided shield 33 is provided to enclose insulating tubing 29 substantially throughout its length, and a jacket 34 of insulating material is provided to cover the shield 33.

A tubular outlet member 36 is welded or brazed within an opening 31 formedin the side of the housing 1 adjacent the inner end of the opening Il to receive and enclose the terminal plate end of the insulating tubing 29. That portion of the plug 6 adjacent the opening is preferably formed concave at 38 to conform to the hot sealed end of the tubing 29. In order to eliminate any air space between the end of the insulating tubing 29 and the wall of the recess 38, the adjacent surfaces thereof are coated prior to assembly with a suitable paste or grease-like substance, such as Dow-'Corning sealing compound No. 4 which insures that no air will be present when the joint is assembled. Such a sealing compound must necessarily have good electricalv characteristics and must not interfere with the electrical contact of the metal parts.

During assembly of the connector with the housing I of the antenna mounting, the braided shield 33 is iiared at its endto enclose and snugly engage the tubular outlet member 36, after which the insulating jacket 34 is hot sealed to the tubular member 36 to hermetically seal the connection between the connector and the housing l. The end of the connector 21 adjacent the contact 32 is also hermetically sealed to prevent the inltration of moisture or water into this end of the connector.

After the antenna I2 has been secured in the antenna mounting by means of the screw Il, a packing nut 39 is threaded onto the upper threaded end of the housing 1 to compress a packing ring 4| and thus lforma leak-proof joint between the antenna and the housing 1. It is contemplated that a suitable mounting bracket (not shown) may be secured to the metallic housing 'l for the purpose of securing the antenna mounting to a vehicle.

While this invention has been shown in but two forms, it is obvious to those skilled in the art that it is not so limited but is susceptible of various changes and modifications without departing from the spirit and scope of the claimed invention.

I claim as my invention:

1. A moisture proof junction between a lead wire and an antenna mast for the transmission of radio frequency energy at relatively low Wattage between the antenna and the lead wire which comprises, an antenna mast, an insulating plug having a blind cylindrical opening extending into one end thereof to receive and embed an end of said antenna mast, a screw mounted in the other end of said insulating plug and coaxially disposed with and projecting through the bottom of said plug and into the opening thereof, and being threadedly engaged with theinner embedded end of said antenna mast, a metallic housing for said insulating plug, an outlet sleeve carried on one side of said housing adjacent the bottom of said plug opening and connecting into said housing, a terminal strip positioned at the bottom of said plug opening for engagement by the embedded inner end of said antenna mast, an electrical conductor leading from said terminal strip through said outlet sleeve for transmitting radio frequency energy at relatively low wattage to or from said antenna, an insulating tube embracing said conductor and having its end projecting into said outlet sleeve, said tube being heat sealed at its end to said terminal strip, a braided shield enclosing said insulating tube and contacting the end of said outlet sleeve, and an insulating jacket enclosing said shield and hermetically heat sealed at its end to the outer portion of said outlet sleeve.

2. A moisture proof junction between a lead wire and an antenna mast for the transmission of radio frequency energy at relatively low wattage between the antenna and the lead wire which comprises, an antenna mast, an insulating plug having a blind cylindrical opening extending into one end thereof to receive and embed an end of said antenna mast, a screw mounted in the other end of said insulating plug and coaXially disposed with and projecting through the bottom of said plug and into the opening thereof, and being threadedly engaged With the inner embedded end of said antenna mast, a metallic housing for said insulating plug, an outlet sleeve carried on one side of said housing adjacent the bottom of said plug opening and connecting into said housing, a terminal strip positioned at the bottom of said plug opening for engagement by the embedded inner end of said antenna mast, an electrical conductor leading from said terminal strip through said outlet sleeve for transmitting radio frequency energy at relatively low Wattage to or from said antenna, an insulating tube embracing said conductor and having its end projecting into said outlet sleeve, said tube being heat sealed at its end to said terminal strip, a braided shield enclosing said insulating tube and contacting the end of said outlet sleeve, and an insulating jacket enclosing said shield and the outlet sleeve.

Y HAROLD Z. BENTON.

REFERENCES CITED The following references'are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 2,048,891 Rabezzana July 28, 1936 2,105,791 Mascuch Jan. 18, 1938 2,134,946 Hurley Nov. 1, 1938 2,274,882 Brach Mar. 3, 1942 2,297,336 White Sept. 29, 1942 2,300,847 Russel Nov. 3, 1942 2,312,107 Mace Feb. 23, 1943 2,381,595 Hulsh Aug. 7, 1945 2,382,984 Fitzgerald Aug. 21, 1945 

